The establishment of a Walk-in and Crisis Centre

The Board of Tygerberg Association for Street People (TASP) has discovered through research and experience that the vulnerable group, called Street People, are the people in the City boundaries that are the most at Risk. Because they live on the Street they are the most disrespected easy target that can be hurt. The police chase them around, assault them and hurt them; sometimes present when Law Enforcement and the VRCID security do the same to them. During the last 4 months four people living on the Street died because of that; without any explanation.

The Board of TASP evaluated this situation and took a stand to help and assist the poorest of the poor and also to promote the City’s aim of being a Caring City.

The 24/7 Walk-in and Crisis Centre

With limited resources and with the help of organisations like IMRI, Dumela, Dusk to Dawn, St Mary’s home of hope, Prison to Praise, Safco, Ubuntu Circle of Courage, the VRCID and 6 churches, we agreed to establish this very important initiative to deliver an effective service to Street people.

The Walk-in and Crisis Centre will be the first of its kind in the Central District and most probably in the City.

Aims and objectives

To keep the Centre open for 24 hours a day
To accommodate people in need irrespective of colour, race or creed
To make provision for women and children involved in domestic violence
To be the first and effective contact for Street People that are hurt on the streets
To deliver support and Social work services in a respectful and effective manner 24/7 to the clients
To work hand in hand with the health and welfare institutions of the City of Cape Town
To focus on building the image of a Caring City to the best of our ability

The location of the building

We are situated in the centre of a crime hotspot and very easy for clients to find. The safety of clients in the facility is secure because there are people and security force 24/7 available or in walking distance of the Walk-in and Crisis Centre. The Centre is opposite the Bus terminus and Taxi rank and 500m from the Bellville station. By supporting this initiative we believe that the City are serious of being a Caring City.

Duration of clients staying at the Centre

The Walk-in Centre will accommodate clients for three days for the most. In three days the client will be referred to another service provider or the case will be finalized by the Social worker of TASP.

Personnel Component

The initiative rely strongly on the City to effectively use some of their EPWP workers to support us to make a success of this.

Manager: Mr Majied – TASP

Administrator: Ms D Derby – TASP

Coordinator: Mr Jantjie Booysen – Ubuntu

Field workers: Mr J Pietersen – VRCID

Mr A Flanders – Dumela

Mrs A Lawson – Ubuntu

Mrs V Geduld – VRCID

Social Development Practitioner: Mr E Majied – TASP

Social Auxiliary worker: Miss A Hopley – TASP

Mrs Y Ndela – TASP

We plea to the broader community for support in cash or kind to make this initiative a success.